The Ukrainian parliament has exempted imported fiber optics used in the production of military drones from value-added tax and import duties. The decision will speed up the production of critical UAVs for the front and reduce their cost.
The Ukrainian parliament has exempted imported fiber optics used in the production of military drones from value-added tax and import duties. The decision will speed up the production of critical UAVs for the front and reduce their cost.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine today supported in the second reading and in general draft laws No. 13305 and No. 13306, which provide for exemption from VAT and customs duties on fiber-optic cable imported for the production of drones. This was reported by People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak in his Telegram channel. The corresponding decisions were supported by 302 and 303 deputies.
These are drones that are controlled via fiber optic cable, rather than radio communication. Such systems are virtually invulnerable to Russian electronic warfare equipment, which actively jams the signals of conventional FPV drones on the front lines. Communication via cable makes it impossible to intercept or suppress the signal, and also allows for reliable transmission of video in real time.
Exempting fiber optics from the tax burden will reduce the cost of such drones and allow manufacturers to more quickly provide the Defense Forces with high-tech solutions. It is worth noting that most optical components for these systems are still supplied from abroad, so cheaper imports directly affect production efficiency.
Fiber-optic cable-based drones have gained particular popularity among the Ukrainian military due to their resistance to electronic reconnaissance and suppression. They are used for reconnaissance, artillery correction, and attack, maintaining stable control even in difficult electronic warfare conditions. Against the backdrop of a technological competition with the enemy, such legislative steps are one of the key conditions for maintaining Ukraine’s innovative advantage.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense shared details about the Stalker FPV drones with fiber optics from TechEx.
